Vehicle lifting device

ABSTRACT

The disclosure herein describes a vehicle lifting device which comprises a supporting frame, consisting of a base portion and of an upright portion, and a lifting frame consisting of two pairs of load arms which are pivotally connected to one another so as to provide relative movement therebetween as the lifting frame is raised. Actuator means are provided for causing the vertical movement of the lifting frame, and abutment means are mounted on the upright portion of the supporting frame for causing the pivotal movement of one pair of load arms relative to the other pair. The above arrangement enables a workman to have access to all parts of the underbody of the vehicle.

United States Patent 1 Johansson Sept. 17, 1974 VEHICLE LIFTING DEVICE [75] Inventor: Anders Johansson, Laval. Quebec,

Canada [73] Assignee: Tor Johansson,Saltsjo-Duvnas,

Sweden 22 Filed: Sept. 15,1972

[21] Appl. No.: 289,619

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 15, 1971 Canada 125297 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/l968 Larsson 214/1 A 3,402,828 9/1968 Vilter 214/1 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain 214/1 A 88,223 5/1958 Netherlands 214/1 A Primary Examiner-frank E. Werner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cushman, Darby & Cushman [57] ABSTRACT The disclosure herein describes a vehicle lifting device which comprises a supporting frame, consisting of a base portion and of an upright portion, and a lifting frame consisting of two pairs of load arms which are pivotally connected to one another so as to provide relative movement therebetween as the lifting frame is raised. Actuator means are provided for causing the vertical movement of the lifting frame, and abutment means are mounted on the upright portion of the supporting frame for causing the pivotal movement of one pair of load arms relative to the other pair. The above arrangement enables a workman to have access to all parts of the underbody of the vehicle.

11 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEFITIBT4 3.836.014-

snm 10F 4 PATENIEDSEP 1 mm SHEET 3 [1F 4 1 VEHICLE LIFTING DEVICE This invention relates generally to a lifting apparatus; more particularly, the present invention pertains to improvements in a vehicle-lifting device of the type that lifts and tilts a vehicle when work is to be performed on those parts which are located under or at the lower portion of the vehicle.

One example of such a lifter is disclosed in the US. Pat. No. 3,363,778 issued Jan. 16, 1968 to Lars Albert Larsson and consists of a substantially horizontal supporting frame which carries pivotable lifting means hingedly connected thereto and arranged to be raised by pressure operated cylinders. However, such lifter has two major disadvantages. First, because the lifting frame consists of two rigid parallel arms which extend transversely underneath the vehicle to contact the underbody, it has been realized that it is practically impossible to perform work on certain parts, such as the transmission and the exhaust systems. Secondly, the lifter lacks means for mechanical parallel guiding of the lifting arms and a swaying movement of the vehicle has frequently been observed; this is due to a nonsimultaneous lifting operation of the tilting arms, which are individually raised by means of pressure fluid operated cylinders, as a result of uneven distribution of fluid in these cylinders. Thus, stability and safety are directly dependent upon the combined operation of the cylinders and a requirement of maximum reliablilty of their functions.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantages by providing an improved lifting apparatus for automotive vehicles which will enable the workman to have access to all the under portions of the vehicle and which will provide a stable and safe lifting operation of the vehicle.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle lifting apparatus which is light and economical in that it requires less structure than those presently known.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for lifting an automotive vehicle which comprises a supporting frame including a substantially horizontal base portion and an upright portion, a lifting frame slidably mounted on the supporting frame and including a first pair of load arms extending in spaced parallel relationship and having one of their ends slidably mounted for vertical movement in the upright portion of the supporting frame; the lifting frame further includes a second pair of load arms extending in spaced parallel relationship and pivotably connected at an intermediate point to associated arms of the first pair of load arms; the apparatus further includes actuator means for effecting the vertical movement of the first pair of load arms in the upright portion of the supporting frame and abutment means mounted on the upright portion of the supporting frame; the abutment means serve to stop the vertical movement of the second pair of load arms when the lifting frame is raised and to effect the pivotal movement of these arms relative to the first pair of load arms.

The upright portion of the supporting frame is provided with guy attachment at the rear thereof to provide a counteracting bending movement to the bending movent produced on the upright when a load is raised. This provision greately reduces the weight of the mem 2 bers used in making the upright portion of the supporting frame.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like or corresponding parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus, shown in FIG. 1, positioned near an automobile shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a similar side elevational view of the apparatus showing the load arms slightly raised above ground and supporting the vehicle;

FIG. 4 is a similar side elevational view of the apparatus showing the vehicle lifted in its uppermost horizontal position;

FIG. 5 is a similar side elevational view of the apparatus showing the vehicle lifted and tilted;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the lifting frame when horizontally raised only;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-setional view similar to that shown in FIG. 6 but illustrating the lifting framw when in tilting operation;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the actuator means.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a vehicle lifting apparatus which consists of a supporting frame that includes a base portion 12 and an upright portion 14. The base portion 12 consists of a pair of spaced parallel beams 16 and 18 which are inter-connected near their rear ends by means of a transverse beam 20. The upright frame 14 is rearwardly inclined (preferably about to the horizontal plane) and consists of two spaced parallel beams 22 and 24 of channel construction, the upper ends of which are inter-connected by means of a pair of angle irons 26 and 27 and the lower ends of which are fixedly secured, such as by welding or screw connection, to beams 16 and 18 of the base portion 12 of the supporting frame. The channel members face each other and each include a web portion 25 and two flange portions 28 and 29.

The apparatus of the present invention further includes a lifting frame 30 which is slidably mounted on the upright portion 14 of the supporting frame. The lifting frame 30 consists of a first pair of load arms 32 and 34 extending in spaced parallel relationship and in a substantially horizontal plane. Each of the load arms 32 and 34 is L-shaped and has its rear end portion extending upwardly and received within the flange portions 28 and 29 of the channel members 22 and 24. Lifting frame 30 further includes a second pair of load arms 36 and 38 which are arranged in spaced parallel relationship and disposed within the span of the first pair of load arms 32 and 34. The second pair of load arms 36 and 38 are pivotably mounted at an intermediate point 40, 42 to the forward end portions of the first pair of load arms 32 and 34, respectively. Load arms 36 and 38 are hollow shaped, preferably of rectangular crosssection, and are adapted to telescopically receive at their opposite ends extension elements 44, 46 and 48, 50 of similar configuration; however, in the preferred form shown in the drawings, elements 44 and 48 are fixedly received in arms 36 and 38 and support a pair of car-contacting pads 52 and 54 which are adapted to slide thereon for adjustment to the different car widths. A second set of pads 56 and 58 are respectively attached on load arms 32, 34. Traverse beams 60 and 62 inter-connect the load arms 36 and 38.

The upright portion 14 of the supporting frame further includes a cross-member 64 fixed onto the rear of members 22 and 24 at a distance slightly above ground and the base portion 12 of the frame. Cross-member 64 carries a pair of abutment means.66, each consisting of a yoke-like housing 68 wherein an axle 70 is supported and a roller 72 is mounted. Rollers 72 are disposed to contact extension elements 46 and 50 when the lifting frame is raised and the extension elements 46 and 50 pulled out of their respective arms 36 and 38.

An important feature of the present invention is that the entire assembly requires only one actuator means for the rising operation of its lifting frame thereby avoiding a nonsimultaneous lifting operation of the load arms such as that present in the prior lifting devices of this type. Such actuator means is shown as 74, rearwardly and upwardly extending between members 22 and 24 of the supporting frame and consists of a piston rod 77 and cylinder 79, having its lower end fixed to a bracket 86 welded to the cross-member 20. The piston is protected from dirt falling from a raised vehicle by a sleeve 75 which is mounted at its upper portion to the piston rod by means of a ball 77 and socket 75 and at its lower portion to a pressure ram 76 by means of bal 75 and socket 77 such that uneven distribution of loads on arms 32 and 34 will not cause lateral forces on the pisotn rod in the cylinder. Suitable power means 87, such as a motor and a pump, are provided for the operation of the actuator means 74.

The opposite ends of the pressure ram 76 are fixedly secured to the upward ends of the L-shaped arms 32 and 34 of the lifting frame. A pair of guide wheels 78 and 80 are mounted at the upper and lower portions of the upward ends and are adapted to roll along the inner faces of the opposite flange portions 28 and 29 of members 22, 24 (see FIG. 8). Other types of sliding means are also envisaged for the sliding movement of the lifting frame in the upright portion, such as sliding beams.

To provide a proper distribution of the bending forces acting on the upright portion of the supporting frame, a V-shaped assembly is provided on the back thereof and consists of a pair of guy attachments 88 and 90 having their upper ends fixed to the rear angle iron 27 and their lower ends secured to a plate 92 which, in turn, is rigidly mounted to cross-member 64 and to the bracket 86 on the base portion of the supporting frame. A bending moment develops in members 22, 24 as soon as a load is being felt by the lifting frame. The longitudinal force present in cylinder 79 (which is located in alignment with the longitudinal center of members 22, 24) is transferred via bracket 86 to plate 92 and to the guy attachments 88 and 90 and to the back portions of beams 22 and 24 of the upright portion of the supporting frame, thereby causing a compressive force in the back portions and a counteracting effect to said bending moment. Due to the shorter length in moment arm, with respect to the connection point of bracket 86 to beam 20, between the attachment of plate 92 to bracket 86 than between the attachment of cylinder 79 to bracket 86, the pulling forces in guy attachments 88 and counteracting the bending moment in members 22, 24 are greater than the longitudinal force in the cylinder. It has been found that the provision of such an arrangement greatly reduces the weight and size of members 22, 24 and, furthermore, that the total load is transferred directly upon the horizontal beams 16 and 18 of the supporting frame without immediate subjacent load support fo the cylinder 79.

An important feature of the present invention is that the present lifting device is adapted to lift an automotive vehicle in the horizontal plane as well as to tilt it dependent on the location of the work to be performed on the vehicle. To operate the car lifting device, the beams 16 and 18 of the supporting frame are brought underneath the car between the front and rear wheels thereof (see FIG. 2). Power means 87 is then operated to actuate the pressure cylinder 79 which, in turn, causes all the load arms of the lifting frame to be raised vertically while remaining in the horizontal plane (see FIG. 3).

If the work to be done on the lower part of the car does not necessitate a tilting of the car, such as changing tires, extensions 46 and 50 are telescopically retracted in their respective beams 36 and 38 (see FIGS. 4 and 6); they will therefore bypass the abutment menas 66 as they will be raised. Load arms 36 and 38 are maintained in the horizontal plane by contacting the under portion of supporting plates 95 for pads 56 and 58.

If the work to be performed requires tilting the vehicle, extension members 46 and 50 are pulled out of their respective arms 36 and 38 (see FIGS. 5 and 7). As the load arms 32 and 34 are raised, the extension members 46 and 50 contact rollers 72 thus resulting in a pivotal movement of the arms 36 and 38 about pivot points 40 and 42; however, load arms 32 and 34 remain in a horizontal plane. Thus, a separation between the under portion of the vehicle and the load arms is obtained. During the lifting operation, pads 52 and 54, which are slidably mounted on extension elements 44 and 48, are slid outwardly thereby keeping the distance between all pads constant. Alternatively, the pads 52 and 54 could be made fixed on members 44 and 48 and these members be made slidable in and out of members 36 and 38.

The vertical movement of the lifting frame is terminated when the piston in the cylinder reaches its full length of stroke.

Although the invention has been described above in relation to one specific form of the invention, it will be evident to persons skilled in the art that the invention may be refined in various ways without departing from its scope. For instance, the lifter may be equipped with spring-loaded wheels thus making it possible to easily move the lifter about when not loaded. Secondly, the car contact pads 52 and 54 can be alternated by driveon-and-off ramps, whereby the car may be lifted on its own wheels. Thirdly, as a safety device, a locking arrangement may be provided to mechanically lock the load arms 32 and 34 in different positions in the upright portion to protect the workman in the occurrence of a power failure or loss of fluid pressure in the cylinder. Fourthly, the actuator menas may include a pneumatic or screw-type deivce for the lifting operation.

Furthermore, the advantage of having inclined members 22 and 24 is that it provides a much lighter lifting device; however, it is still within the purview of this invention to provide a lifting device with substantially vertical members despite the need to provide stronger members and to preferably secure these members to the floor or the walls. It is envisaged that a lifting device made in accordance with the present invention and having an upright portion with vertical members could be coupled in a back-to-back arrangement with another similar lifting device. As it can be seen from the above, it is wished to have it understood that the present invention is not limited in interpretation except by the terms of the following claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An apparatus for lifting a vehicle comprising a supporting frame including a substantially horizontal base portion for positioning beneath the underbody of a vehicle and an upright portion; a lifting frame slidably mounted on said supporting frame and including a first pair of load arms extending in spaced parallel relationship, each having first support means thereon to receive one side of the underbody of the vehicle to be lifted and each having one of their ends slidably mounted for vertical movement in said upright portion, said lifting frame further including a second pair of load arms extending in spaced parallel relationship and pivotally connected at an intermediate point to associated arms of said first pair of load arms, each of said second pair of arms having second support means thereon to receive the other side of the underbody of the vehicle to be lifted; actuator means for effecting the vertical movement of said first pair of load arms in said upright portion of the supporting frame; and abutment means mounted on said upright portion for effecting the pivotal movement of said second pair of load arms relative to said first pair of load arms when said lifting frame is raised whereby, upon pivotal movement of said second pair of load arms, said seocnd pair of load arms are distanced from the underbody of the vehicle to provide there between a free working space.

2. An apparatus for lifting a vehicle comprising a supporting frame including a substantially horizontal base portion for positioning beneath the underbody of a vehicle and a rearwardly inclined upright portion; a lifting frame slidably mounted on said supporting frame and including a first pair of load arms extending in sapced parallel relationship, each having first spaced means thereon to receive one side of the underbody of the vehicle to be lifted, and each said arms having front portions extending in a substantially horizontal plane and rear portions upwardly extending in said upright portion of said supporting frame; said lifting frame further including a second pair of load arms extending in spaced parallel relationship and pivotally connected at an intermediate point to associated front portions of said first pair of arms, each of said second pair of arms having second support means thereon to receive the other side of the underbody of the vehicle to be lifted; pressure operated actuator means centrally disposed on said upright portion and fixedly connected to said rear portions of said first pair of load arms for effecting the vertical movement of said first pair of load arms; and abutment means mounted on said upright portion for effecting the pivotal movement of said second pair of load arms relative to said first pair of load arms when said lifting frame is raised whereby, upon pivotal movement of said second pair of load arms, said second pair of load arms are distanced from the underbody of the vehicle to provide there between a free working space.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said second pair of load arms includes at least at one end thereof extension elements telescopically received in said arms and adapted to contact said abutment means whereby said lifting frame remains in a horizontal plane when said extension elements are retracted in their respective load arms thereby bypassing said abutment means when said lifting frame is raised.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said second support means includes pad-supporting extension elements telescopically receive at the other end of said second pair of load arms.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said abutment means consists of a cross-member extending traversely on said upright portion adjacent the lower part thereof, of a pair of yoke-likeroller-support housings adapted to respectively contact the extension elements of said second pair of load arms.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an arrangement of guy attachments, each attachment having one end fixed to said upright portion and the other end fixed to said base portion whereby bending forces produced in said upright portion are counteracted by the arrangement of said guy attachments.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said base portion includes a bracket centrally secured thereon, said bracket fixedly receiving the lower part of said actuator means; said upright portion further including a pressure ram having its opposite ends fixedly secured to said upwardly extending portions of said first pair of load arms and having its mid-portion mounted on said actuator means.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said upwardly extending portions of said first pair of load arms each include a pair of roller guides; said upright portion consisting of a pair of channel-shaped members receiving said roller guides.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said actuator means includes a cylinder, a piston rod and a cover extending over said cylinder and rod, said cover being fixedly mounted to said pressure ram.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a pair of parallel ramp means transversely mounted on said lifting frame whereby a vehicle positioned on said ramp means may be lifted on its own wheels; one of said pair of ramp menas being adapted to slide on said second pair of load arms.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means mounted on said second pair of load arms include vehicle-contacting pads that slide longitudinally relative to said second pair of load arms. 

1. An apparatus for lifting a vehicle comprising a supporting frame including a substantially horizontal base portion for positioning beneath the underbody of a vehicle and an upright portion; a lifting frame slidably mounted on said supporting frame and including a first pair of load arms extending in spaced parallel relationship, each having first support means thereon to receive one side of the underbody Of the vehicle to be lifted and each having one of their ends slidably mounted for vertical movement in said upright portion, said lifting frame further including a second pair of load arms extending in spaced parallel relationship and pivotally connected at an intermediate point to associated arms of said first pair of load arms, each of said second pair of arms having second support means thereon to receive the other side of the underbody of the vehicle to be lifted; actuator means for effecting the vertical movement of said first pair of load arms in said upright portion of the supporting frame; and abutment means mounted on said upright portion for effecting the pivotal movement of said second pair of load arms relative to said first pair of load arms when said lifting frame is raised whereby, upon pivotal movement of said second pair of load arms, said seocnd pair of load arms are distanced from the underbody of the vehicle to provide there between a free working space.
 2. An apparatus for lifting a vehicle comprising a supporting frame including a substantially horizontal base portion for positioning beneath the underbody of a vehicle and a rearwardly inclined upright portion; a lifting frame slidably mounted on said supporting frame and including a first pair of load arms extending in sapced parallel relationship, each having first spaced means thereon to receive one side of the underbody of the vehicle to be lifted, and each said arms having front portions extending in a substantially horizontal plane and rear portions upwardly extending in said upright portion of said supporting frame; said lifting frame further including a second pair of load arms extending in spaced parallel relationship and pivotally connected at an intermediate point to associated front portions of said first pair of arms, each of said second pair of arms having second support means thereon to receive the other side of the underbody of the vehicle to be lifted; pressure operated actuator means centrally disposed on said upright portion and fixedly connected to said rear portions of said first pair of load arms for effecting the vertical movement of said first pair of load arms; and abutment means mounted on said upright portion for effecting the pivotal movement of said second pair of load arms relative to said first pair of load arms when said lifting frame is raised whereby, upon pivotal movement of said second pair of load arms, said second pair of load arms are distanced from the underbody of the vehicle to provide there between a free working space.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said second pair of load arms includes at least at one end thereof extension elements telescopically received in said arms and adapted to contact said abutment means whereby said lifting frame remains in a horizontal plane when said extension elements are retracted in their respective load arms thereby bypassing said abutment means when said lifting frame is raised.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said second support means includes pad-supporting extension elements telescopically receive at the other end of said second pair of load arms.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said abutment means consists of a cross-member extending traversely on said upright portion adjacent the lower part thereof, of a pair of yoke-like roller-support housings adapted to respectively contact the extension elements of said second pair of load arms.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an arrangement of guy attachments, each attachment having one end fixed to said upright portion and the other end fixed to said base portion whereby bending forces produced in said upright portion are counteracted by the arrangement of said guy attachments.
 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said base portion includes a bracket centrally secured thereon, said bracket fixedly receiving the lower part of said actuator means; said upriGht portion further including a pressure ram having its opposite ends fixedly secured to said upwardly extending portions of said first pair of load arms and having its mid-portion mounted on said actuator means.
 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said upwardly extending portions of said first pair of load arms each include a pair of roller guides; said upright portion consisting of a pair of channel-shaped members receiving said roller guides.
 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said actuator means includes a cylinder, a piston rod and a cover extending over said cylinder and rod, said cover being fixedly mounted to said pressure ram.
 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a pair of parallel ramp means transversely mounted on said lifting frame whereby a vehicle positioned on said ramp means may be lifted on its own wheels; one of said pair of ramp menas being adapted to slide on said second pair of load arms.
 11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means mounted on said second pair of load arms include vehicle-contacting pads that slide longitudinally relative to said second pair of load arms. 